Hibiscus Matters_Issue 343_20 March 2023

Community groups face tight squeeze under Council budget proposals

Community groups are anxiously checking their leases and crunching their numbers as Auckland Council’s budget proposes to hugely increase the fees charged for its facilities.

The proposed changes to Council’s Community Occupancy Guidelines could

see the current ‘peppercorn’ rental of $1 per annum for a Council building rise to $1300, with large increases also in what is charged for maintenance (eg. from $500 per annum to $5000).

Locally this will affect a wide range of organisations, including sports clubs,

Centrestage Theatre, the HBC Youth Centre, Stoney Homestead, CAB, the local marae, Estuary Arts Centre and many more.

Each situation will be different, depending on what leases the organisation holds with Council – for example who owns the

land and buildings.

Estuary Arts chair Michael Irwin says the proposed fees, combined with the deep cuts proposed to grant funding, would leave the arts centre out of pocket by more than $20,000.

Pictured enjoying time at the Men’s Shed in Silverdale are Men’s Shed chair Maurice Browning, left, and Men’s Shed member and Estuary Arts Centre chair, Michael Irwin. Sparks are flying among community groups like theirs over proposals to massively increase charges for Council leases.

“Who pays for flood resilience?”

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“The proposals squeeze groups from both sides – grants go down and costs go up,” Irwin says. “Yet what these organisations do, is make Auckland a richer place. Already groups such as ours are on the back foot – especially around here, where we are supported less than in other parts of Auckland.”

He says the arts centre already does a lot of the work on its facility itself, with Council only coming in if there is a major maintenance issue. It also brings in as much as possible from classes and exhibition fees.

“If these increases happen, we would have to consider raising membership, exhibition and class fees – yet we are a community facility. Being accessible to all is key.”

Accessibility is also key for the Hibiscus Men’s Shed. Chair Maurice Browning says the proposals, together with a big hike in insurance costs, mean they also face having to raise membership fees.

“A 1299 percent increase in our peppercorn rental (from $1 to $1300) – where did that come from?” he says. “We will be making a submission.”

The proposed increases don’t affect current leases, only coming into play once leases are up for renewal. Local boards are given the option of whether to adjust the fees, which Hibiscus & Bays Local Board deputy chair, Julia Parfitt, says it puts them in a very difficult position.

“This is not a local board initiative – it was hatched at Council. We have not been involved in the development of these guidelines and we are fully aware how many local groups could be affected,” she says. “We are asking how those increased sums were arrived at.”

Parfitt says it is vital that submissions be made on the proposals, before it is too late – submissions close next week (see Box).

“The local board has the right to reduce or waiver fees, so we need submissions that clearly state a group’s situation, the use the facility gets, and the potential effect on them.”

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“We’re between a rock and a hard place because we also face a 46 percent cut to our budget. All this contributes to taking apart the fabric of the community, which is what local government is all about.”

Mayor Wayne Brown says local boards are not being forced to recover administration and maintenance costs by charging

everyone’s got to take a little haircut,” he said. “Until you put people under pressure, they sometimes don’t realise where money is being wasted.”

Brown said when his term as Mayor ends, “Council will be leaner at the top, and Council Controlled Organisations – Auckland Transport, Watercare, Tataki

back foot

Michael Irwin, Estuary Arts Centre

community groups more to lease Council owned spaces.

He told Local Matters in Warkworth last week that the proposed $16 million cut in local board budgets was to “try to get local boards to realise that there are other ways of doing things”.

“I don’t want anyone to have to cut their budget, but I inherited such a huge debt that we have to do something, and

Final week for submissions

Auckland Unlimited and Eke Panuku Development – will be very different. They will be more commercially focused, with a lot less management, reduced staff numbers and much more customer focused. They will be more about doing what people want, and less about getting people to do what some zealot in the city wants.”

w Backstories www.localmatters.co.nz

February 21, 2022

Auckland Council is consulting on its proposed 2023/24 budget. The only local Have Your Say budget session offered locally, was held at Whangaparāoa Library on Monday, March 6. More than 30 people came to speak with local board members and Crs Wayne Walker and John Watson about issues of concern. Erosion on Ōrewa Beach was raised, as well as water quality, and some regional issues that fall outside the local board’s powers. The local board put up sheets asking for people’s views on the services they would like to retain, given that budget cuts will equal cuts to local services too. Among the areas people showed most interest in were library opening hours, a more sustainable approach to park mowing, climate action and grant funding. There was noticeably less interest in Council supporting local events. The local board will take these views into consideration as they look at their priorities for spending their limited funds. The Council’s 2023/24 budget is open for public submissions until next week – submissions must be in by 11pm on March 28. Info: akhaveyoursay.nz/budget and paper forms are available at libraries and service centres.

The proposals squeeze groups from both sides – grants go down and costs go up. Yet what these organisations do, is make Auckland a richer place. Already groups such as ours are on the

Flooded families seek answers: what happens next and who pays

A group of family members living by a creek in Stanmore Bay, say they face an uncertain future after being flooded out of their homes on Anniversary Day.

Alethea Courtenay, her daughter Monique and son-in-law Troy Andreassen, are trying to move on from memories of washed out fences, inundated homes, cars written off and carrying the kids through waist-high smelly water to higher ground on the night of Friday, January 27.

“It’s six weeks ago but we are still stressed,” Monique says. “We think about it all the time and rain is very triggering for all of us.” “The first thing we do whenever it rains, is check whether it’s high tide,” Troy says.

Alethea has lived in Stanmore Bay for 61 years and, with neighbour Mike Pine, organised a community meeting on March 4 at the boat club. Around 70 people attended, and heard from Crs John Watson and Wayne Walker as well as local board members.

“Many were shocked to see the size of the catchment area and what feeds into it,” Alethea says.

Long-time resident Mike Pine has a background in civil construction and drainage. He says Auckland Council should have considered the effects on the catchment before planting the D’Oyly wetland, in 2018.

He says the primary purpose of the reserve was as a stormwater catchment.

“It’s nice to have it planted with natives but they shed debris which is washed down, blocking the inlet grill (or ‘bear trap’),” he says. “The overflow can’t exit via the stream below my property, because it has not been maintained for 16 years. It was planted with natives that restrict the flow of water, which directly caused the flooding of homes. The stream needs cleaning urgently to mitigate problems in future.”

Although improved maintenance of infrastructure is a big focus, residents like the Courtney family are wondering whether they have a future in their homes.

“Should we even be allowed to live here, or should it be taken back to wetland?” Monique asks. “If so, would we be paid what the properties are worth?”

“We need to raise the houses up above the flow, but insurance doesn’t pay for that, and we can’t afford it,” Troy says. “I would ask whether Council has liability, bearing in mind it consented all the development around here which now contributes to

more siltation and runoff.”

At the meeting, Cr Watson said millions of dollars have been spent providing infrastructure and flood mitigation at D’Oyly Reserve but if it’s compromised by the build-up of debris and the grates block, there’s a major problem.

He said the plan of action includes clearing silted waterways and an urgent Healthy Waters (stormwater) audit.

“We have to make sure absolutely everything possible is done to ensure this isn’t repeated,” he said.

Cr Walker said most of the streams are on private property and the private landowner is responsible for maintenance of their section of the stream.

“In many ways this is impractical –property owners definitely have their part to play but the council needs to take the initiative in pulling it all together,” he said.

“It’s a situation duplicated right across Auckland but events of January 27 show that it’s no longer acceptable to leave things and hope for the best.”

Local board members Leanne Willis, Sam Mills and Gary Brown were also at the meeting and pledged to look at local maintenance contracts to see what can be done.

Council’s Healthy Waters head of operations, Andrew Skelton, says the D’Oyly Reserve project was created to naturalise the stream without increasing flood levels to the area, and was extensively modelled.

“Modelling considered the impact of climate change as well as future development within the catchment,” he says. “The rainfall on January 27 was unprecedented and exceeded the 1 percent AEP (annual exceedance probability), and consequently the floodplain extended to surrounding properties. The stormwater also washed down debris from the wider catchment to the weir. Even if the debris had not blocked the weir, the volume of water would have been similar. There was simply too much water to drain away before it overtopped the reserve.”

Regarding maintenance, he says Healthy Waters continues to maintain the wetland and planting and carries out quarterly inspections.

“The weir/grille is a critical hotspot and is regularly inspected and cleared, including before and after any forecast major storm event. Between January 26 and midFebruary, the grille has been cleared six times,” he says.

“Where the stream moves into private land council is not responsible for maintainance, however major blockages can be reported either online or by calling 09 301 0101 and we will carry out an inspection.”

The Hibiscus & Bays Local Board has asked for stormwater disposal constraints to be considered when resource consents are granted for development.

Currently Auckland Council’s Plan Change 78, which enables the Government’s urban density National Policy Statement, is before independent commissioners.

Local board deputy chair Julia Parfitt and chair Gary Brown took the issue to the commissioners on March 8.

Adequate water and wastewater provision has already been recognised as a potential ‘qualifying matter’, restricting where intense development can occur without resource consent. Member Parfitt says the board wants a stormwater disposal constraints control to be included as a qualifying matter where flooding issues are identified.

The proposal was put together before the recent flooding and cyclone events, but those weather events have put stormwater at the top of mind.

Parfitt says Council needs to look at historical documents about which areas had flooding issues, rather than rely on the zoning currently allowed under the Unitary Plan, which she says has upscaled zoning even on overland flow paths. “The former Rodney District Council catchment management plans were accurate, but those areas were up-zoned despite this,” she says. “Many had known stormwater issues.”

“We are seeking a site-specific approach to coastal hazards and inundation provisions. In this plan change, some of those provisions are looked at in a ‘blanket’ way but, for example, Ōrewa Beach is quite different from the inundation at Arkles Bay.”

The local board also asked that the provision of an adequate public transport network be a qualifying matter –something Auckland Transport chose not to put forward. Parfitt said they also looked at urban design, requesting that access to sunlight be considered as well as options for developers to apply best practice, which could result in things such as better open spaces and pedestrian access.

“My view is that Government needs to re-evaluate its urban density standards bearing in mind that a 100 -year storm could happen again as soon as tomorrow,” Parfitt says. “We’ve seen which areas are suitable to develop and we shouldn’t be intensifying everywhere.”

Plea for stormwater to be factored into developments

Monique Courtney and Troy Andreassen’s home had water through the floorboards. They are waiting for insurance to be sorted out so that repairs can begin. Below, The blocked ‘bear trap’ at D’Oyly Reserve.

Cyclone fallout: homeowners demand help

Homeowners who live on Marine Parade, Ōrewa are feeling angry, left out and ignored as Auckland Council’s sand replenishment and plans for other parts of Ōrewa Beach move forward. There are eight homes, including four in the Oceanside complex, that can only be accessed via Marine Parade, which goes along the beachfront.

Cyclone Gabrielle increased erosion of the reserve between the beach and the road, threatening that access.

Oceanside resident, Julia Stroud, addressed the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board on February 28, expressing anger and frustration at what residents say is a lack of Council action to remedy their situation.

“We have got signs along the front of our property saying ‘Danger’,” she told members. “We fear that retreat [from the shoreline] is the Council policy.”

Residents are seeking sand replenishment as a buffer without delay, before any potential winter storms, as well as replacement for steps to the beach that are now unusable.

Longer term remedies to shore up the road will be more complex as this part of the beach is also affected by stormwater runoff from developments further up the catchment in North Ōrewa.

The Stroud’s neighbours, Jean and John Bungey are also concerned. John says Council has “a duty of care” because it owns the road and consented the development to the north. He says the reserve is used by the public, and also needs protection.

At the local board meeting, the option of privately funded structures on the beachfront was raised.

The Strouds are unsure whether the body corporate of their complex would be prepared to pay for its own sea defences. Residents of the Ocean Point complex, which fronts onto where the seawall will be built between Kohu St and Marine View, are grappling with the same issues – the need for some immediate restoration and stabilisation work, and who will pay for it.

Ken Elley of Ocean Point’s body corporate says they have a responsibility to their property owners to investigate options and costs. “But we are looking to Council for leadership,” he says.

Hibiscus & Bays Local Board deputy chair Julia Parfitt is clear that Council cannot build seawalls simply to protect private property – there has to be a public asset involved. In the Marine Parade case, there is a public reserve and road in front of homes, with emergency access to properties

Water charges go up 9.5%

Watercare has confirmed Auckland’s water and wastewater service prices will increase by 9.5 percent from July 1. This follows the price path included in Auckland Council’s Long-Term Plan which was adopted in June 2021, after public consultation. Watercare chief executive Dave Chambers says since the board approved the price path there have been significant challenges, including high inflation and extreme weather events ranging from drought to the recent floods. “However, we know many people are facing financial strain, so that is why we’re sticking with the price path we communicated in 2021 as part of Auckland Council’s LongTerm Plan,” he said. Water and wastewater service charges will increase by 9.5 percent, and infrastructure growth charges by 8 percent. The price for 1000 litres of water will go from $1.825 to $1.998, while 1000 litres of wastewater will go from $3.174 to $3.476. The fixed wastewater charge will go from $264 a year to $289. Customers are encouraged to get in touch with Watercare if they’re struggling to pay their bills. Flexible payment plans or referral to the Water Utility Consumer Assistance Trust, are options for customers suffering hardship.

Public transport fares rise

a key concern. The local board asked the Community Facilities division of Council to look into vehicular access to properties on Marine Parade and report back. At the same time, Parfitt says, residents elsewhere on the Coast are taking matters into their own hands.

She says the number of residents seeking resource consent to build or replace private seawalls is increasing, with two recently seeking consent on Whangaparāoa beaches.

Cr Wayne Walker was also approached by the Oceanside residents. He says changes

need to be made because the catchment plan and modelling for Ōrewa is out of date.

“However, there is only so much money to play with and although some people may not like it, we may need to consider managed retreat and sand shifting. He says more sand could potentially be shifted because of the amount now piling up from runoff into Ōrewa Estuary.

“Construction is also exacerbating stormwater runoff, at Nukumea Stream, for example, Cr Walker says. “A whole of Ōrewa approach is needed.”

Public transport fares in Auckland will rise by around 6.5 percent from April 2. Auckland Transport (AT) says the fare increase, the first in two years, will add no more than 20 cents per journey while the Government’s half price fare support remains in place. AT interim chief executive, Mark Lambert, says operating costs have increased significantly since 2021, and the number of passengers using public transport has reduced. “This leaves a significant funding gap, and we are seeking funding from multiple sources but unfortunately a small percentage has to be covered by customers,” he says. Short distance fares increase by around 8 percent and longer distance fares by 3 percent to 5 percent with some outer zone fares remaining at current levels, reflecting what Lambert says is AT’s desire to make public transport more accessible for Aucklanders who need to travel further. Lambert acknowledges that it has been a challenging time for public transport customers – “with significant bus driver and ferry crew shortages, the level of service has simply not been the same as our customers are used to,” he says. “I want to assure Auckland that we are doing everything possible to get public transport back on track.” Fares are reduced to halfprice through central government funding support until June 30.

Homeowners, from left, Julia and Rudolf Stroud and John and Jean Bungey demonstrate how erosion is threatening their only accessway.

Wayne Brown, Mayor of Auckland wayne.brown@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Viewpoint Budgeting for resilience

I would like to begin by reassuring local residents that Auckland’s more rural areas have not been forgotten, especially those communities that are still responding to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle and recent weather events.

During my visits to flood-damaged areas including Dairy Flat, Riverhead, Puhoi, Wellsford, and Warkworth, I was impressed by the resilience and can-do attitude of local residents, and their coordinated efforts to help one another.

It gives me confidence that local boards in areas much like these can take charge in an emergency and organise a lot of things themselves, and that more responsibility and decision-making powers should sit closer to our communities.

As we make the transition from emergency response to the longer-term recovery, I have called for all local board chairs to put forward their top-five ideas for the Big Auckland Fix-Up. We’re looking for solutions that balance the immediate needs of local communities with the council’s need to achieve immediate cost savings.

The $295 million budget gap bequeathed to me is far from ideal, but I’m confident that we will get through this if we are clear about what matters most to all Aucklanders, and I strongly urge you to participate in the public consultation process ‘AK Have Your Say’ that is currently underway.

Given that many homes in Auckland’s Albany and Rodney wards were without water, power, and mobile coverage following Cyclone Gabrielle, it’s clear that emergency preparedness, infrastructure, and transport are key priorities.

Last week, the ward councillors and I

instructed council staff to examine the longer-term impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle for all Aucklanders.

Auckland Council will carry out a ‘current state’ assessment to investigate the causes and impacts of recent weather events, such as flooding and landslides, and the implications for public policy and infrastructure settings.

While a ‘future state’ assessment will identify improvements across public policy and infrastructure settings, so the entire region and our local communities are more resilient to water-related hazards.

Reading Hibiscus Matters, it is immediately apparent that road closures (Puhoi) are an ongoing source of frustration for local residents. Some of you may be aware of my criticism of Auckland Transport for being urban-focused when at least half of our region is rural.

While we can’t necessarily speed-up the repair of flood-damaged roads, which often involves coordinated efforts across multiple agencies, we can try to build back better and work better together.

I am more determined than ever to deliver on the five key policies that made Aucklanders vote me in – stop wasteful spending, take control of council organisations, fix infrastructure, get transport moving faster, and make better use of our waterfront and environment.

One more week for intersection works

Several readers recently enquired when the roadworks around the intersection of East Coast Road and Hibiscus Coast Highway will be completed. A spokesperson for Auckland Transport says this work is being completed by a private developer. It includes stormwater, wastewater and roading upgrades. “This work is sometimes required by Auckland Council as part of the Resource Consent process to manage the impacts of private development on public assets such as roads and water services. As such, we don’t have insight into the day-to-day management of the works. However, we have been advised by the developer that the work will be completed by March 31,” the spokesperson says.

I am more determined than ever to deliver on the five key policies that made Aucklanders vote me in

Beach fix needed

These photos of Ōrewa Beach were taken on February 15, the morning after Cyclone Gabrielle hit. They show what can be done to mitigate storm damage on Ōrewa Beach. As of writing this most of the remediation work Council did has already been washed away. What is abundantly clear is something major needs to be done to save Ōrewa Beach from storm event destruction. I have spoken to at least 20 people walking the beach and to a person agree that urgent and permanent action is required by Council. These local folk have watched the useless mitigation techniques applied by Council for over 50 years and have a wealth of local coastal knowledge. None has ever been asked for their views!  We do not need any more expensive consultants reports, the pictures tell it all. What is needed is local input and hard and binding decisions made at Council then get on with the job of a permanent fix – but don’t forget to ask the locals.

Alastair Irving, Ōrewa (abridged)

Have your say on services

Now that Auckland Council has put its 2023/24 Operating Budget out for consultation, I hope citizens will positively look at retaining two very important aspects of community that have been essential elements over the years. Opening hours of our local libraries should not be reduced. I was a member of the Birkenhead City Council in the late 1980s when we led in opening our library on a Sunday. They had been previously closed and, in our opening, we gave more time for people to access the many features that a library brings. I am proud to say that a library is a place of comfort, learning and a gentle space to be in a world that appears to be becoming more and more frenetic. I also believe that Citizens Advice Bureaus should continue to be funded by council with help from central government. They advise people who need help and don’t know where to turn. Consider the many immigrants who find so many things confusing, citizens who find bureaucracy so daunting rely on the many volunteers who give their time freely to assist them in this complex world. Please consider these community services when you submit to the Auckland Budget.

Peter Burn, Gulf Harbour

Editor’s note: The Council’s 2023/24 budget is open for public submissions until next week – submissions must be in by 11pm on March 28. Info: akhaveyoursay.nz/budget

Learn from Tamaki Drive

Paul Klinac’s suggestion that the Ōrewa Reserve could become a dune system [HM March 6] defies recent and past erosion history due to the existing rock walls at each end creating an unnatural environment where tidal swirl produces a scouring action. The only dune system is toward the estuary which might be considered the council’s sand dump for beach restoration, and we all know where that happens! We also have witnessed the effect of wind driven sand onto the road and into neighbours’ properties. To suggest that a rock wall limits the amount of dry beach is true as is shown by all the areas currently protected by this system but this does not limit the use – after all, the beach only dries as the tide goes out. As a regular walker along the length of the beach and having past history in civil and environmental works I continually observe the changing nature of the beach and the guided and misguided approaches to tame it. We should reflect on Tamaki Drive or even Oriental Bay in Wellington, projects carried out by our forefathers when our leaders considered the long term rather than the next 12 months budget. They all have beach access as does Ōrewa Beach repeatedly along its length. The beach and reserve are separate but adjoining entities and should be treated this way. As an aside (and referencing the “Shifting Sands’ item), since when did private property out-value public lands?

Colin Selfe, Red Beach

Have amp, will travel

The recent Business Whangaparāoa meeting in Red Beach with Simon Bridges lacked a sound system but local board chair Gary Brown came to the rescue with an amp and microphone which he conveniently keeps in his car. “I like a politician who has an amp in his car,” Bridges said. “Makes me think of speaking on street corners”.

Red Beach artist Holly Aymes recently completed a mural under the Ōrewa South bridge. Holly is the indigenous arts representative for Te Herenga Waka o Ōrewa community marae. In 2021 she was commissioned by Auckland Council’s Recreational Services division, as part of their beautification projects, to design and paint the mural on underpass, in the hopes of reducing tagging. Covid-19 and weather delayed the project until the end of February. The mural, recently completed with the help of Holly’s friends and whānau, represents Ranginui and Papatūānuku through a series of tapatoru, or triangular patterns on the outsides of the bridge, while underneath stars Tāne-mahuta as a mokomoko (or gecko) pushing the two apart. There is also a nod to Tangaroa with a stingray and snapper flowing in and out of the estuary.

This structure, which was revealed at Stanmore Bay after recent erosion, has been a source of fun on social media with people photo-shopping various things into its interior – including Michael Jackson, and a cat!. Council’s heritage team say it is an old stormwater outlet with a metal grate that was fitted to stop debris accumulation.

March is late for a display of sunflowers like this, but Ben the gardener at Hibiscus Hospice in Red Beach keeps on sowing them – these were planted in December. One of Ben’s jobs is to keep up a supply of fresh flowers to be picked so hospice patients and staff can enjoy them.

Easter has filled the shelves that were previously short of eggs at Pak n Save Silverdale.

Knitting warms babies, and hearts

At 94 years of age, Isa Ordish has lived at Pinehaven Cottage in Hatfields Beach for six years. During that time she has knitted hundreds of cot blankets for babies.

She has knitted ever since her own six children were young, and is determined to continue doing it.

Callout results in new vehicle

Silverdale St John has a new ambulance, donated by a local woman after she saw, first-hand, the service that St John provides. Colleen McKay was at a concert in Ōrewa with a friend, when the friend took ‘a bad turn’ and an ambulance was called.

“A first response vehicle came, and the paramedic was wonderful as he did the necessary checks of my friend,” Colleen says. “While we were waiting for the ambulance to arrive to take her to North Shore Hospital, I decided to donate an ambulance and the wheels were put in motion.”

The ambulance was officially dedicated at a ceremony at Silverdale St John station on February 28. The event was attended by Colleen, her friend, ambulance staff

and representatives of other divisions of St John, as well as Northern Region Patron Richard Blundell.

St John Rodney Area operations manager, Casey Stark-Allen, said at the ceremony that Hato Hone St John is humbled by Colleen’s generosity, and the ambulance is a welcome addition to the fleet.

Last year, the Silverdale and Manly ambulance crews attended 7707 incidents and transported 5755 people to a treatment facility.

A new ambulance, fully kitted out, costs around $249,000. To find out more about donating an ambulance contact Suzana Noth, email suzana.noth@stjohn.org.nz or phone 09 579 1015 x 8472.

Last month, Pinehaven Cottage staff put two and two together when Kathy McCormack from Mission without Borders put out a request for anyone who could knit for the cause.

Isa’s pile of blankets had found good homes!

Pinehaven’s diversional therapist, Jayne Minifie, says Kathy was delighted with the donation, and said many babies will benefit from Isa’s kindness.

Isa’s cot blankets will be sent to orphanages and villages in eastern Europe. Last year Mission without Borders sent donations

Blanket knitter Isa Ordish, aged 94, right, with Kathy McCormack. from the public to the Ukraine for people displaced by the war.

“Isa doesn’t seek the limelight, but she is happy to know that her knitting is going to a good cause and keeping babies warm,” Jayne says.

No free lunch for Councillors

Hibiscus Rodders’ recent Ōrewa Beach Festival raised $52,000 for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust. The Rodders will take the big cheque over to the helicopter base in convoy on April 2. Co-organiser of the Rodders festival, Sharon Morris, says it is a great outcome, especially as the festival dates had to be changed because of the floods, and the event was reduced to two days.

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air. An Auckland Council committee chair has taken the initiative, showing his colleagues there is no such thing as a free lunch under council’s budget pressures. At the Planning, Environment and Parks committee on March 2, chair Richard Hills cut the free lunch of the committee as discretionary spending. This followed the Governing Body resolving to encourage cuts to discretionary spending by council, Council Controlled Organisations and local boards a week earlier. At the time of the resolution, Cr Hills was concerned that councillors did not have a common view of what discretionary spending actually is. Before going to lunch, Cr Wayne Walker, who had moved the Governing Body’s resolution to encourage cuts to discretionary spending, asked who made the decision to cut lunch. “I decided that lunch is discretionary, at least in my committee – other chairs can make that decision for themselves.” Cr Hills said. Cr Walker later told Hibiscus Matters that apart from finding out late that there wasn’t going to be any lunch provided, he also felt the matter should have come to a workshop rather than the chair making the decision. “I don’t see the lunch as discretionary Council spending,” Cr Walker said. “I work hard to keep my expenses minimal and I think the modest cost of providing lunch is worthwhile.” In its previous term, the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board stopped providing free lunches to members, Chair Gary Brown says. “We changed meetings to daytime, to save money on after-hours security too,” he says. “It was our way of helping with savings during Covid-19 and now we’re continuing in the same vein.”

Colleen McKay, fourth from right, with members from Hato Hone St John, and the ambulance she donated, at the dedication ceremony in Silverdale.

Echoes of Brash in Seymour’s Ōrewa speech

The fact that it’s election year may have got a bit lost with all the weatherrelated disasters happening around the country – but not if you’re a politician.

First to take his campaign to the Hibiscus Coast was Act’s David Seymour who addressed a crowd of around 250 people in Ōrewa Community Hall on the evening of Thursday, March 9.

A number of those gathered to hear Seymour said they were there because he’s “a straight talker”, and because they are “disappointed with National”.

Seymour, pleased with the large turnout, said it is clear people are fed up and ready for change, noting, in particular, that people are struggling with the rising cost of living. He said what he is hearing about this in places such as South Auckland could bring about a shift in voting, even in long held Labour seats.

“I have spoken with hard working young people who tell me there is no way

forward,” Seymour said. “My view is that the last few years of excessive spending and regulation is to blame.”

On tackling crime, Seymour said should Act form part of the next Government, the party’s Three Strikes policy, which automatically hands maximum sentences to those who commit three serious crimes, would be back. He also stressed the need to reduce reoffending by building self-improvement into the corrections system – things such as teaching those in prison to read – to assist their chances of rehabilitation on release.

He said Act also favours a bottom-up, not top-down approach, exemplified by a plan to ask the country’s best school principals what they want from the Ministry of Education, and actioning that, rather than the other way around.

There were echoes of Don Brash’s infamous Ōrewa speech in 2004, when Seymour addressed the topics of co-governance and equality.

At the time, Brash was National Party

Leader. His speech in Ōrewa included his views on race relations, arguing that there was no need for “affirmative action (also known as reverse discrimination)” [for Maori] and that the Treaty of Waitangi provisions were poorly understood.

“We are one country with many peoples, not simply a society of Pakeha and Maori where the minority has a birthright to the upper hand, as the Labour Government seems to believe,” Brash said. “Over the last 20 years, the Treaty has been wrenched out of its 1840s context and become the plaything of those who would divide New Zealanders from one another, not unite us,” Brash said. In similar fashion, Seymour said that equal human rights should be paramount, not different rights by ethnic background. In his view, this is what the Treaty envisioned. “The chiefs who signed the Treaty would have been Act supporters,” he said. “The vision was for limited government, selfdetermination and equality before the law –all Act policies. The issue is how it has been

interpreted, dividing people. We must stop constantly apologising for our past.”

Seymour said there are undoubted challenges, with Maori doing less well in areas such as education, health and home ownership. He said targeting problems such as mouldy homes, and “not moving people from motel to motel” would better deal with those issues.

The topics covered in the one-and-a-half hour meeting were wide-ranging and included questions from the floor on subjects such as the 3 Waters reforms, Covid-19 vaccination, the Resource Management Act and mining on conservation land. Many among the audience were unhappy at what they see as Government imposing its values on them.

“It’s not the job of Government to change people’s behaviour,” Seymour said. “We are here to change the Government’s behaviour. Act wants Government to get out of the way.”

The chiefs who signed the Treaty would have been Act supporters ...

Act NZ leader David Seymour addresses an attentive crowd in Ōrewa.

Whangaparāoa College looks forward with VR & AI

Virtual Reality (VR) headsets and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is entering the classrooms of Whangaparāoa College as part of a pilot programme that is a first for NZ.

Last week, HP NZ launched its Reinvent the Classroom service at the college. It brings in a digital framework to help schools effectively integrate the very latest technology into teaching and learning. NZ is the third country to introduce this framework.

HP’s education ambassador, Brett Salakas, says schools internationally that have participated have seen increased engagement from students and improved learning outcomes.

Principal Steve McCracken says over the last nine months the college has surveyed how technology is used in the school. He says most of the teaching has been using technology to replace the ‘chalk and talk’, whiteboards of old – so it’s been used as a tool, rather than as a learning technique in itself.

“By investing in this, with HP, we upskill staff and bring them into the same world that our learners are in right now with technology,” McCracken says. “It will also extend our learners and have them experience more than basic communications.”

Reinvent the Classroom includes bringing in things like VR and AI. The college has a class set of VR headsets and McCracken says they want to give all students a chance to use them.

“We have found many students are static at their desks, so using AI and VR brings movement back into the classroom,” he says. At the pilot launch of Reinvent the Classroom on March 14, HP demonstrated

how Cleopatra could be brought to life using AI.

“We asked her questions, with answers generated by AI,” McCracken says. The technology can be used across all subjects.

“Not only can we be transported back in time, but we can connect across the world. We can put the VR headsets on and be in the middle of Paris! Giving our learners that experience in real time is a fantastic opportunity.”

McCracken says teachers were excited at what they saw at the launch, with a lot of anticipation about ways the technology can be used.

“We are going to proceed carefully and bring our staff and community on board because there are risks around doing it properly. HP is providing upskilling for teachers and that is a very important next step.”

Thousands raised by college for Napier school

A non-uniform day at Whangaparāoa College to raise money for Taradale High School in Hawkes Bay received amazing support. More than $12,100 was raised. The nonuniform day, on Wednesday March 1 was themed in Taradale’s school colours of blue and gold. Following the cyclone, the need at Taradale High School is financial but longer term, Whangaparāoa College will continue to assist them with their recovery and continue nurturing the relationship between the two schools.

A Kai’s Education, Kai Clan Set for collaborative coding

Whangaparāoa College teacher, Vidya Ram with a VR headset

57 Test for suitability (3,3) 58 Encircle (8) 61 To blame (2,5) 62 Horror-struck (6) 63 Hate a man (anag)(8) 66 German city (9) 68 Programme (6)

Capers (6) 73 Perfect happiness (5)

Mental anguish (8) 76 An increase in intensity or magnitude (10) 81 Stir vigorously (7) 82 Fame (6)

83 Bawdy (6) 84 Company (4) 85 Try (7)

86 Depraved person (10)

87 Swell out (7) DOWN

1 Warning device (5)

2 Early plastic (8)

3 Gained after expenses (6)

4 Ludicrous situation (5)

5 Cipher (4)

6 Tropical storm (7)

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18 Craze (5)

22 Bulb with fragrant flowers (8)

23 Complaint (5)

24 Looked briefly (7)

26 Play sections (4)

28 Colourful arch (7)

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Arts centre needs more space

Retreat

opens

A fundraising golf tournament last month that raised $75,000 for Youth In Transition’s mental health services was the icing on the cake for the organisation, which recently established a retreat in Waitoki to further support young people.

Youth In Transition (YIT) has been operating mental health services for young people since 2014 and runs its Journey Back To Awesome programme from its Whangaparāoa clinic. Currently it has 374 young people in the programme, and 675 have been helped on their road to recovery. Since last November, the young people enrolled in Journey Back To Awesome have also been welcomed to a new retreat, called Duke House, in Wainui, which has also enabled the charity to expand the type of services it can offer.

The rural property was purchased by businessman Rod Duke, who wanted

door to mental health services

to support the organisation’s work and provided YIT with a lease. The 1.6ha property has five buildings as well as native bush and gardens.

YIT director and co-founder, Tina Jones, says Duke House, which is set to have its official opening this year, has already enabled the expansion of YIT’s catchment, with referrals coming in from Helensville, Kumeu and Millwater.

As well as regular peer support groups and one-on-one counselling, 10 young people and their parents have been hosted there for a weekend retreat. A young person on the programme was also able to spend a weekend at the retreat with her family who travelled there for respite after being severely affected by the floods.

As well as counselling and holistic services, Duke House enables young people to connect with others through gardening and being outdoors.

Duke House will include space for fitness programmes, bush walks, growing edible plants, cooking classes, yoga, meditation classes and more.

YIT chair, Andrew Hoggard, says monthly counselling hours have risen over the past year by nearly 60 percent.

“The demand for our services is always high, but never higher than now,” Hoggard says. “Sadly lack of physical space and resources means we have had to turn young people away, which is heart breaking. That is why Duke House is so important.”

A formal opening ceremony for Duke House, including a thank-you to the charity’s supporters, will be held later this year. Anyone can become a Friend of Duke House to assist the organisation, which receives no Government funding.

Info: www.youthintransition.org.nz/thejourney-back-to-awesome

Estuary Arts Centre in Ōrewa is about to launch a fundraising campaign to make its long-held plans to expand a reality. The plan to expand its Studio 3 (part of its original, former KFC, building) has been on the drawing board for at least two years. Representatives of the arts centre recently presented a concept for the expansion to the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, asking for a letter of support so that fundraising can begin in earnest. At the meeting, chair Michael Irwin estimated the project could cost around $500,000. The proposal has come about, Irwin told the board, because Studio 3 is too small for full classes, and therefore underutilized. Increasing its capacity could also increase the income that the arts centre derives from classes and renting its spaces, helping make it more financially sustainable. The concept includes putting down a wooden floor and extending the centre’s leased area by around 30sqm onto the surrounding reserve. Doing so would also provide potential for an outdoor performance space. The concept drawings and initial profile plans are on display at the gallery in Western Reserve, Ōrewa.

w Backstories www.localmatters.co.nz

July 1, 2021

Estuary Arts Centre hopes to expand one of its studios, potentially providing an outdoor area for live performances.

Right, Duke House volunteers and staff, from left, Garth Bradford, Selven Naidoo, Tina Jones, Chery Weir and Andrew Hoggard. Duke House. A tournament at Gulf Harbour Country Club teed off some great fundraising for Youth in Transition’s Journey Back to Awesome programme. Photo, Victor D’Alcantara, Up and Up Photography.

Community groups seek more cat control

When cats were first captured on camera on the chenier (shell bank) in the Weiti River, last October, environmental group Friends of Okura Bush (FOOB) got out their live cat trap. Two cats were quickly caught and returned to their owners.

Cheniers are rare shell bank formations where many native seabirds live and nest, and predation by cats is a serious concern. The Weiti River chenier is classified as a Significant Ecological Area under the Unitary Plan.

FOOB was equipped for live cat trapping because of its work with the Department of Conservation in Okura Bush.

However, when Auckland Council was notified of trapping on the chenir, it asked FOOB to stop.

FOOB’s predator pest control coordinator, Jo Crawford, says the organisation discovered that when Council updated its Regional Pest Management Plan, in 2020, it changed the rules – now, any cat control on Council-managed land can only be done by Council staff or contractors.

Crawford says FOOB has serious concerns for the seabirds that live or nest on the chenier, including dotterels and more than 200 godwits. Pateke (brown teal ducks) that live on the lagoon behind the chenier lost their chicks to cats in the recent breeding season.

She says at a meeting with Council staff last month, it was clear that money is too tight to have contractors trap on the chenier and that education (brochures and signs) is the current focus.

“It is very disappointing to say the least,” Crawford says. “Without cat control all those birds are at risk. FOOB goes above and beyond the rules for live trapping, including daily checks, providing water and shade and getting cats to the vets fast to be checked for microchips.”

Council’s biosecurity principal advisor, Dr Imogen Bassett, says Council’s cat control is focused on protecting the highest priority threatened species sites first.

“In addition, we have to consider whether trapping is the most appropriate management option,” Dr Bassett says. “For

some sites, where many of the cats will be owned cats, trapping will not solve the issue. For this reason, Council is investing in responsible pet ownership messaging in the Okura Bush and Weiti area as a first step.”

She says trapping on the chenier may be appropriate in the future and the situation will continue to be assessed.

“Cat owners are often surprised at how far their pets travel. Anyone who owns a cat within 2-5km of the area can help protect the threatened species at the chenier by making sure their cat is desexed, microchipped and kept at home on their property.”

She says the cat control policy is to ensure the safety of owned cats and of the people involved in delivering cat control.

Crawford says FOOB plans to work with other community groups, including one in Omaha, to try and get a change in the rules.

“We are suggesting a training course for community groups for live traps, with their skills getting official sign-off and a permit. We plan to organise a multi-group meeting to discuss our next steps.”

Notable tree felled due to safety concerns

When this Norfolk pine on Ōrewa Beach was cut down recently, it created a lot of interest, with people contacting Hibiscus Matters concerned that it could be a precedent affecting the pines on Ōrewa Reserve. The tree that was felled, at 397 Hibiscus Coast Highway, was on Auckland Council’s Notable Tree register – the highest level of protection an Auckland tree can have. It was on private property, and was felled at the property owners’ request, under the Unitary Plan’s Emergency Tree Works provisions. The provisions allow for alteration or removal of a notable tree, without resource consent, if that work is “immediately necessary to avoid any actual and imminent threat to the safety of persons or damage to property or to maintain or restore utility services”. Anyone seeking to use those provisions much get advice from an arborist and provide photos to demonstrate the issue. Council’s area operations manager, Kris Bird, says in this case, an arborist engaged by the landowner recommended that the pine be urgently removed because of safety concerns.

Ayla and Miller Gilmour watch as one of the Norfolk pines that their great great grandfather, Noey Meldrum, helped to plant 80 years ago, is cut down.

A campaign has begun to allow trained environmental groups to capture cats in live traps, to protect birds like these on the Weiti River chenier. Photos, Martin Sanders

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Mortgage broker says ‘you have options’

By Neville and Keagan Modlin, The Lending Team

Hibiscus Coast-based mortgage brokers, The Lending Team, say currently, homeowners with mortgages are more overwhelmed than ever before.

Mortgage adviser Neville Modlin says the rising cost of living plus recent flooding and cyclone damage has placed many local families ‘on the edge’ financially.

“Many don’t know where to turn; but they do have options,” he says.

Neville says the company is receiving a high number of “SOS calls” from mortgagors. He says 80 percent of the homeowners who are getting in touch are currently on 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent fixed term interest rates.

“With renewal dates approaching quickly, they’re likely to refix at between 6 -7 percent,” he says. “On an $800,000 mortgage, that’s an estimated extra $400

per week or $1600 a month and for many families – which is daunting.”

He says a number of people don’t know that advisers can help with the refixing process; not only with new lending.

“Many homeowners are simply unaware that there are options available to help them during this tough time and that qualified personalised advice is key as every case is different.”

For any homeowners who are currently facing hardship or are concerned about repayments increasing, there are options available, and Neville says mortgagors don’t have to wait for their current term to end to kick these discussions off. “Early discussions are crucial as they give you time to explore all options on the table,” he says.

Some options are:

Mortgage Restructure

Mortgage structure is often overlooked by homeowners but can significantly impact their repayments. Key areas to consider

include: • Floating vs Fixed Interest Rate

- On a floating rate, your repayments are influenced by the current variable rate at your bank. During 2022, this increased significantly which directly impacted repayments for homeowners with variable loans, revolving credit facilities and/or offset accounts. If you’re finding it tricky to adapt to these increases, fixing either all or a portion of the loan might be a great solution. Fixed rates are locked in for a certain time period, between 1-5 years, giving you reliability of repayments regardless of the market. • Extending your Loan Term –Depending on your current loan term and age, you could extend your loan term to reduce your repayments. Extending the term for a $500k mortgage from 20 to 25 years saves $350 a month (at 6.5 percent). Of course this means it will take longer to repay with more interest overall, however your repayments will be reduced while times are tough.  • Interest Only Terms –Interest only terms are common with investment properties. They

are also an option for homeowners under significant stress, including a change in employment. This means you only repay the interest on your loan during a set term (your mortgage loan will stay the same). Interest only terms are short (6-12 months) and not always extendable, but can provide significant short term relief, especially if you’re in danger of losing your house.

Refinancing

Refinances – where you move your existing loan to a new provider – have become a competitive market with banks eager to gain new customers. This also provides the option of restructuring the loan. At first glance, interest rates are relatively similar between the main banks, however a ‘cash contribution’ offer is often a great incentive to move providers. This is a cash incentive that is transferred to you upon refinancing. Most banks are currently offering a cash contribution of 1 percent; and some up to $25,000 - which could make a massive difference to some homeowners. However, there are potential costs to refinancing, including legal fees or break fees (if you refinance during your fixed term). “Optimally, you would refinance when your fixed rate is up for renewal to avoid this, but you can refinance even if your term isn’t up for renewal.”

Speak to the hardship team

Banks have dedicated hardship teams available to assist and advisers can help play an intermediary role for overwhelmed customers. The hardship team is dedicated to assessing options such as a personalised repayment plan on a case-by-case basis.

Neville’s key advice to those who are worried about increasing interest rates is that they need to have an understanding of their financial position now; not later.

“Many spend too long on the ‘what ifs’, however, it’s all speculation until they’ve had their bank or mortgage adviser assess where they are. From there it’s possible to come up with a workable solution.”

We’ve been getting you sorted around here since 1985

Book encourages businesses to back themselves

Business coach Natalie Tolhopf runs a successful business but underneath it all, she says she was full of self-doubt.

“I was doing well, but it was about believing it, on a personal level,” she says. “Businesses are all about planning and moving forward, but I discovered it’s also super important to stop, celebrate the benchmarks we achieve and look at how far you’ve come.”

She wrote her new book, Become Unstoppable: How to quit playing small, own your expertise and elevate your business in the aftermath of Covid-19.

“That whole process showed me that noone in business knew what the right next step might be,” she says. “All we had was ourselves and in fact, that is enough. We have to trust our intuition, back ourselves and then we become unstoppable.”

In the book, Natalie shares her own

personal journey to get to that point of confidence.

“I look at where my self-doubt came from, and sharing that helps normalise it,” she says. “Social media makes everything look perfect, but underneath, everyone is like that duck on water – paddling fast to stay afloat.”

Personal confidence is a vital part of your business, Natalie says, because when you are not confident, you don’t sell as well and sales are the lifeblood of any business.

“If you understand your value, and the value of what you offer, you will sell with conviction – and that has to be consistent.”

“I was sick of feeling like I wasn’t enough – comparing myself to unrealistic benchmarks. Especially in these difficult times, we have to keep moving forward, without those types of comparisons.”

At the same time, she says being unstoppable is not about constantly striving and pushing.

“It’s carrying on in spite of your failures and doubts. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses, you build and start from understanding that you are already enough – you know what you are doing.”

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Hibiscus Matters has two copies of Become Unstoppable to give away. To enter the draw, ‘like’ Hibiscus Matters on Facebook and message us your name and daytime phone number, mentioning Become Unstoppable; or drop an entry that includes your name and phone number into our office at 21 Florence Ave Ōrewa. Entries close Friday, April 7. The book is published by Imperfect Action Publishing, RRP $25 and is available from www.natalietolhopf.com

Community co-ordinator to support fundraising events

Fundraising groups throughout Rodney and the Hibiscus Coast could get a boost in future, thanks to a new regional role created by real estate group Harcourts Cooper & Co.

The company has appointed Hiria Kayes as its community relationship co-ordinator to support and help with events in the area covered by the seven new branches it acquired last year – Ōrewa, Whangaparāoa, Silverdale, Millwater, Warkworth, Snells Beach and Matakana.

Kayes, who lives at Manly, will liaise with local agents and organisations to support and help with a range of community fundraising events.

“We can support an event in a number of ways – sometimes it can be with money, it might be our time or with equipment, such as gazebos, or with our Coffee & Cone ice cream and coffee truck,” she says.

“It will be a real privilege to cover the northern Auckland region, and meet and assist the people that really work so hard to provide events and raise funding to enrich communities.”

Some of the organisations already being assisted in the region include Harbour Hospice, Youth in Transition, Silverdale Rugby Club, Saviong Hope, the Ōrewa Bike Cruise, Run Ōrewa and Women’s Centre Rodney.

Kayes joins a team of four – plus casual staff – who make up the Harcourts Cooper & Co community team, which has existed since 2013 and has raised more than $6 million in that time.

Cooper & Co managing director Martin Cooper says the company’s growth will see an increase in its community fundraising, which already supports more than 400

events each year.

“As a company, we have always believed that you give back to those who support you, and I believe we have the largest community outreach programme in northern Auckland,” he says. “We are thrilled to be bringing the team to the Coast and Rodney, and Hiria is the ideal person to engage with all the communities we operate within.”

Anyone interested in seeking support for a community group or event should visit www.cooperandco.co.nz/do-you-need-somehelp or contact their nearest Harcourts Cooper & Co branch.

Right, Hiria Kayes will co-ordinate Harcourts’ local fundraising activities. A Cooper & Co coffee and ice cream truck is available for events.

Natalie Tolhopf

Business

Phil Pickford, phil.pickford@thinkdifferently.kiwi.nz

‘Short termism’ clear on Coast

As anyone from the Coast who finds themselves on our roads during the week will tell you, traffic is becoming more difficult by the day, and March is always particularly bad. We have seen some improvements over time – the motorway extension from Albany, Whangaparāoa Rd widening (from Vipond Rd to Red Beach Rd), the bus station (but no bus lane), an extra lane here or there in Silverdale and plenty of new sets of lights. But I must admit to thinking, especially while waiting in the Silverdale chaos, did anyone plan this? Is it intentional? When approval was given to the raft of development across the Hibiscus Coast, was there a strategic plan put together to ensure infrastructure, especially transport, would be able to provide for that development? Has strategic planning died? What we are seeing on the Hibiscus Coast is further proof of a worldwide dilemma known as “short-termism”. This is where, in the face of uncertainty, we doubt our view of the future. We don’t take risk of any sort, thinking that it is logical to just deal with what is in front of us right now. The problem with that approach is that there are many industries who are planning for growth and opportunity, who are gathering together the means, the skills and the competencies to grow, but that are being seriously hampered by those that are not. When those that are not are responsible for providing the infrastructure to allow for growth and opportunity, we see things like Whangaparāoa Road and Silverdale at 7am, parking at the bus station, and the motorway

exit at Silverdale anytime between 4pm and 6.30pm.

Strategy is often about being different and doing different things. It’s about taking a view of the future and planning a way through it. We all know things can change so it’s important for that plan to be reviewed from time to time. Strategy is never set; it must be dynamic. But most importantly, execute the plan.

Auckland Transport does extensive planning, but in a business sense the effectiveness of that past planning needs to be measured by reality today. Every organisation is working with scarce resources – it’s how that organisation plots its course around those scarce resources that really matters.

A leading business thinker once said, “Strategy is one percent vision and 99 percent hard work”. So I would say to those planners of transport infrastructure on the Hibiscus Coast, take a view of the future and plan a way through it. Involve as many groups as possible, make some decisions, craft a strategy and then execute it. Only then will you be able to bring the community with you.

To come back to the question, has strategic planning died? No, not for many successful, thriving businesses throughout the Hibiscus Coast. If only that same intent, energy and innovation, that same optimistic view of the future, was inherent in those that decide on whether our infrastructure will be capable of allowing us to live and work the way we wish to in the future.

Childhood centre cuts carbon

An early childhood facility in Red Beach recently took a giant step forward in reducing the amount of waste that it sends to landfill.

The Nurture Early Learning Centre joined the Eco ECE programme in February, 2021. This brings trained facilitators to the centre to provide advice and a plan to reduce waste.

Eco ECE programme facilitator, Samantha Imhof, says one of the most common waste streams is food scraps.

“Nurture is one of the larger centres on the Hibiscus Coast and food is prepared and cooked on site,” she says. “These types of centres have more food scraps than those where parents provide lunchboxes.”

Samantha says an easy solution for Nurture, therefore, was to jump on board with the City to Farm initiative where food scraps are put into a bokashi bin system, collected weekly and taken to a farm in Waitoki to be composted and used to grow bananas. Since Nurture started working with City to Farm, it has diverted a massive one tonne of food scraps from landfill.

To mark this milestone, the centre was given a plaque at the Waitoki farm. It is the first plaque to go to a Coast early learning centre.

Samantha and City to Farm facilitator Stephanie Muller Pallares also presented the children and teachers with a certificate. “The children showed us some wonderful pictures they had drawn about their ideas around how much one tonne looked like,” Samantha says.

Nurture Early Learning Centre’s waste cutting efforts earned them a plaque on the banana farm.

Sion Stavrovski

Risotto made easy

Cooking can be fun and very rewarding, if you just follow your taste buds and use whatever you have in the pantry to construct that delicious meal. That is the way I always cook. Whatever you cook, make sure you try it and add seasoning if needed, right up to when it is served. Remember, you can always add spices, but you can’t take them out, so add small amounts until you are happy with the flavour. Here is a two course dinner that’s quick and easy and uses pantry staples.

Risotto is versatile – you can make it with any meat or seafood, or vegetarian. What you must have is butter and olive oil. I don’t use stock.

If you have leeks, chop them with garlic and red onion (also chop the leek leaves – these will be added later).

I love garlic, so 3 cloves and half a big red onion for two people, together with one cup of rice, is perfect.

Cook your meat balls (or any other protein) in olive oil – don’t overcook it, as it will go back in the risotto together with the leek leaves for the last 5 min.

When cooked, remove the protein, add the garlic, onion and leeks back into the same pan and brown them lightly. Boil water in the kettle.

Throw the rice in the pan when veggies are lightly browned and mix well. Cook and keep

mixing – don’t over brown the rice. Add 150ml of water to start with and don’t stop mixing the rice. Season with salt. Don’t let the water disappear – keep adding small amounts, (not too much, it’s not a soup) until you try the rice and think it is ready.

Put the protein back in the pan, with the chopped leek leaves, and cook for 5 min. I like the rice al dente and not overcooked, and there should not be too much water in the pan when you remove it from the stove. Add 100g of butter to the risotto, mix well and gently hit the pan over a cloth on the bench a few times until the risotto is flat in the pan and all the butter has gone through it.

Sprinkle on a little olive oil, mix well and again gently hit the pan few times on the bench. Sprinkle on some fresh herbs. I use a mix of Italian parsley and rosemary from the garden. Serve and enjoy!

Cheesy garlicky Portobello mushrooms

Mushrooms are in season and readily available. Choose fat, meaty looking ones. If they are big, one per person as entree will do the trick. If smaller, maybe two. Heat the oven to 190°C fan. Lightly sprinkle olive oil in an oven dish, place the mushrooms with the top down and stem up.

Chop garlic to taste (I use one clove per mushroom). Fill the mushrooms around the stems with cream cheese or feta. Sprinkle the garlic on evenly and some more olive oil on top. Season with salt and black pepper and place the mushrooms in the oven. Check in 10 minutes as every oven is different. You don’t want the mushrooms to shrink too much. When the cheese has started to change colour and is browning, take them out – they are ready. Sprinkle on some fresh herbs – whatever you have in the garden or pantry. Chopped fresh oregano is what I use.

Matakatia resident Sion Stavrovski enjoys making meals ‘out of nothing’ – whatever he has in the pantry or fridge, with no recipe required. He puts these skills to good use creating community meals for Love Soup from rescued food. His column aims to make cooking at home a fun, relaxed and tasty experience, giving people confidence to use up whatever they have, and save money by reducing food waste.

Meatball risotto

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The premium specification offers light interiors and open plan layouts with generous bedrooms and storage spaces, luxury appointed kitchens, elegant dining areas and inviting living spaces that extend onto spacious and covered balconies. Meticulously planned kitchens are complimented by Miele appliances, Grohe tapware, and premium materials such as quartz benchtops, timber flooring and oak veneer cabinetry. Contemporary bathrooms are finished with floor-to-ceiling porcelain tiles, mirrored cabinets, under tile heating, composite StoneCast basins, and walk-in showers.

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Alligator weed spread a concern

An invasive weed that likes wet conditions, and is a major concern in waterways is currently popping up everywhere on the Hibiscus Coast. Called alligator weed because it lurks in wet places, it spreads easily. It is very hard to kill and therefore expensive to control.

Ben Rogers, who looks after maintenance and gardening at Red Beach hospice, has seen the weed take off, invading the lawn and garden areas largely because the soil is wetter than normal.

“We’ve had it in the garden for the last couple of years, but it has become a huge problem after the wet weather,” he says.

Many of the normal weed removal techniques, particularly organic ones, have been unsuccessful. When it is in the lawn, mowing cuts it into pieces which can then regrow. Mulching helps suppress the weed, but as soon as light comes through, it pops up again.

A pile that Ben pulled out by hand and put in black plastic bags in a garage to rot was still alive a month later.

He says a beetle that eats alligator weed in other countries has proved unable to handle NZ conditions and so cannot be introduced here.

Ben likes to garden without toxic sprays, but he’s reluctantly had to resort to glyphosate to try and kill alligator weed.

Worryingly, Ben has seen it growing in D’Oyly Reserve waterway recently.

“That’s scary, as it takes over and blocks silt from moving through,” he says.

He says it is also all over the Coast, on public berms and in gardens.

He recommends pulling it out, dumping it in a pile and spraying the pile over time until all of it is dead. Alligator weed, originally from Brazil, has been in NZ since the early 1900s.

“It’s really taking hold on the Coast. The more people that are aware of it and can remove it the better,” Ben says.

Ben Rogers says wet conditions have led to the spread of this weed all over the Hibiscus Coast.

Organ donation a gift of life

March is national Kidney Month, and Organ Donation NZ and Kidney Health NZ have joined forces to help raise awareness about the importance of kidney donation. There are two types of kidney donation –Organ Donation NZ is responsible for deceased organ and tissue donation across Aotearoa, while Kidney Health NZ supports live kidney donations. Donor coordinator for Organ Donation NZ, Sue Garland, says that whether you’re considering live donation or wanting to ensure that your organ donation wishes are considered after you die, it’s important to talk with your loved ones. Organ donation that occurs after someone has died is only possible in a small proportion

What can you do?

Auckland Council’s biosecurity principal advisor, Dr Imogen Bassett, did her PhD on alligator weed. Here’s her advice: • Alligator weed can grow from just a small fragment of stem or root. Therefore, to prevent further spread it’s really important to make sure there aren’t fragments of alligator weed contaminating soil or other materials that are moved between sites. • It can be tricky to control once it’s on your property. If it’s just recently popped up, consider getting onto it quickly before it gets too much of a foothold. For small infestations, you may be able to dig it out. Larger infestations will likely require herbicide use. • Alligator weed is a pest plant under Auckland’s Regional Pest Management Plan, meaning that it’s not legal to distribute it to new locations. However, you may dispose of pest plant material to landfill or secure green waste facilities. • For more detailed advice visit Auckland Council’s Pest Search website - www. tiakitamakimakaurau.nz/protect-and-restore-our-environment/ pests-in-auckland/pest-search/altphi/

This month the team at the Harbour Hospice’s Silverdale Shop celebrated its fifth birthday. Originally two separate stores run completely by volunteers, the teams merged in 2018 and relocated to the shop’s current location on Silverdale Street, with paid management put in place. Retail manager Suzanne Shields says 16 of the original volunteers are still part of the team. There are now more than 40 volunteers in total. “We’re like a family, we feel so much joy here,” Suzanne says. More volunteers are needed, so pop in and talk to Suzanne if you’re interested. Pictured at the birthday celebrations are staff with Suzanne Shields in the back row, second from left.

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The next frontier for the human body – GP talks space flight

Although Dr Chris Benton chose medicine as a career, he has been fascinated by space ever since he saw the first moon landing when he was eight years old. He began studying towards a Masters degree in astronomy in 2014, when semi-retired from his GP practice at Manly Medical Centre (where he was one of the founding doctors). His Masters thesis was on technical aspects, such as telescope optics, but a major project he undertook into what happens to the body on long haul space flights brought together his medical knowledge and passion for space flight.

In particular, he was looking at flights to Mars, which currently take around nine months each way.

Chris says the main hurdles for astronauts’ bodies on long flights are prolonged weightlessness, which affects every organ in the body, and exposure to radiation.

Poses with purpose: yoga raising funds for disaster relief

He notes that with more private, commercial flights into space in the coming decades, the physical hazards of the journey become more interesting to the general public.

“It could be your relatives or friends travelling on these pioneering missions,” he says. “Those physical hurdles are real, and significant but nothing we can’t overcome. Research and counter measures to those problems are well advanced.”

Asked whether he would like to take a space flight himself, Chris says a definite ‘yes’.

“Hypothetically, because of the cost, if I had the opportunity for space tourism I’d be at the front of the queue,” he says. “This is humanity’s next big adventure.”

He says after his talks, people often ask him – ‘why go to Mars? Why not sort out our own planet first?’

“It’s human nature to keep moving forward,” he says. “But anyway, we can’t afford to be a one planet species. Finding other options is like an insurance policy. It will take hundreds of years, but we have to start. We also learn a lot about the body, Earth and science in general – those are big spinoffs,” he says.

To share what he has learned, Chris, representing the Hibiscus Coast Astronomical Society, is giving a talk at Whangaparāoa Library on Wednesday, April 12. The talk is free, but bookings are essential. See What’s On, page 31 for details.

What’s on at Estuary Arts Centre

“Magical Aotearoa”

by Susannah Law, Kim Boyd, Heather Maree Owens, and students of Red Beach Studio

“North South” by Sylvie Joyce

“Summertime” a group exhibition by the Hibiscus Coast Artists

“Jill’s Collection” painting and ceramics by Jill Bryce

April School Holiday arts

Available NOW view and book on: estuaryarts.arlo.co/w/

Yoga House studio owner Sophie Rado has put together a yoga class and raffle event to raise funds for disaster relief in NZ following the recent devastating floods and cyclone. The fundraiser includes a one hour outdoor yoga class taken by Sophie, at Arundel Reserve in Ōrewa, and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses. All proceeds – a koha for the class, and raffle sales – will go to the Red Cross fund. Sophie’s husband, radio host and comedian Nick Rado, will run the raffle, which will be drawn after the class. Raffle prizes so far include aromatherapy goodie bags worth $150, a one hour massage, Paint and Sip double pass from Studio Rūma, and vouchers for local restaurants and eateries including Ōrewa Beach House Eatery and The Coffee Club.

The fundraiser is on Saturday, March 25, from 9am-10am. You can book online, or just turn up on the day to take part. To register or donate https://yogahouse.punchpass.com/ classes/12763373

Dr Chris Benton’s interests in medicine and space collided when he studied the effects on the body of long haul space flight. He will share what he learned at Whangaparāoa Library.

Ōrewa yoga instructor Sophie Rado has put together a fundraiser for Red Cross disaster relief. Her husband, comedian Nick, will run the raffle.

... we can’t afford to be a one planet species. Finding other options is like an insurance policy. It will take hundreds of years, but we have to start.

Sheryl Takayama, Nutritionist sheryl@whyweightacademy.com

Bittersweet Easter

It’s not Easter yet, but the tempting chocolate eggs and bunnies have been in the shops since last month.

For several years, every time I reached into my pockets, I found hidden chocolate wrappers: evidence of a sneaky sugar habit that started when my children were young – that challenging phase of motherhood, when I was tired in the afternoons and there were more sugary foods in the house. What began as a treat for my children had quickly spiraled into an addiction for me, fueled by negative emotions.

Easter was a nightmare. The abundance of hot cross buns and chocolate eggs at work and home made it impossible to resist. I would begin Easter weekend with good intentions, only to end it feeling ashamed, bloated, and full of regret.

I took action and kicked my sugar addiction for good 10 years ago, but I know many others are not so lucky. As a weight loss coach of 12 years, I’ve seen that Easter can be the most challenging time of the year for those struggling with their sugar intake. If you are feeling apprehensive about the Easter holiday, here are some tips to help you navigate the weekend without falling face-first into the egg basket.

one weekend. If you decide you want a few Easter treats, enjoy them over one or two days rather than one or two weeks before and after.

• Make a plan: This is the best way to avoid overeating, especially if you are going away for the weekend. Plan nutrientdense, high-protein meals to stay full throughout the day.

• Have good alternatives available: It will be much easier to avoid temptation when you have good alternatives on hand. My favourite options include low carb hot cross buns (available in Ōrewa at Keto by D café), dark chocolate, sugarfree chocolate and keto cookies.

• Maintain your good habits: Fatigue and dehydration can lead to sugar cravings. Drinking at least two litres of water daily and getting enough sleep will help you to stay on track.

• Get moving: Exercise is a great way to manage stress and reduce the urge to eat. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or tempted to indulge in sugary treats, take a walk outside, hit the gym, or do some yoga.

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When I finally quit sugar for good I still found Easter challenging, but implementing these strategies has made it much easier. With mindfulness, pre-planning and movement, you can have a wonderful weekend without ending up in a sugar coma!

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Clockwise from top left, Harcourts had a special blue duck in the race (hand-painted by a kindergarten family). From left, Ōrewa Beach Kindergarten head teacher Aimee Mayn, with Ōrewa Surf lifesavers, and duck wranglers, Pete McConnell and Shane Burke. Six-year-old Mieke Van Niekerk of Millwater had two ducks in the race. Robyn O’Connell volunteered to help husband Pete, of Ōrewa Surf Lifesaving, with the duck race. Duck colouring in was popular with the young ones. Around 700 ducks were piled into sacks to be taken to the start line in Ōrewa Estuary. Every duck was removed at the finish line to swim another day.

Ducks in a row for derby race

It is 14 years since Ōrewa Beach Kindergarten held its first Ducky Derby fundraiser, and the idea of racing plastic ducks down the estuary with prizes for the first three across the finish line is as popular as ever.

On March 11 a crowd of families with young children gathered at Ōrewa Estuary to watch 730 ducks race.

To take part, you purchase ducks for $10 each – they are all numbered, and the owners get a matching ticket. There are also larger ducks which go to businesses and event sponsors. Like the event itself, most of the ducks are 14 years

old. All the ducks are retrieved after the race and organisers say they have not lost a single one. In the lead up to the race, there were raffles, food and entertainment stalls to keep the crowd happy. MC on the day was Gary Brown and the event was also supported by Ōrewa Lions, Rotary, Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste and Ōrewa Surf Lifesaving Club.

A small team of surf lifesavers with inflatable rescue boats were responsible for releasing the ducks in the estuary at the start line, ensuring none went astray, and collecting them at the end. It was not an easy task, given the wind and current,

but was handled with good humour by experienced duck wranglers Pete McConnell, Shane Burke and their team.

First corporate duck across the line was Ōrewa New World, which won a morning tea shout –the supermarket gifted its prize to Ōrewa Surf Lifesaving Club.

The first three ducks home belonged to David and Renata Stent (third place), Tegan Cook (second) and Lauren Muriwai-Mumby, who won a barbecue from Bunnings, and a meat pack for first place. This year’s Ducky Derby raised around $11,000 for the kindergarten.

Gardening

Surviving climate with diversity

Plant diversity increases stability, pollinators and weed and pest suppression, and is an essential garden tool.

Diversity also means there will always be something that will get through a weather system, and so it proved to be when the winds of Cyclone Gabrielle thrashed the corn, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, and most of the ripening fruit on the trees in our garden.

Two plants that withstood the strongest winds were Perilla, also known as shiso or Japanese basil (perilla frutescens var, crispa), and Magenta spreen. Perilla, an Asian herb and member of the mint family, is purple and very ornamental. It is used for wrapping sushi and giving the pink hue to pickled ginger. It is made into pesto and used to make umeboshi, the Japanese red pickled plum. Shiso can be used with noodles, pasta, mushrooms, pork, and tomatoes. In Chinese medicine shiso is used to treat asthma, colds, and flu.

Magenta spreen (Chenopodium giganteum) is a cousin of quinoa and out-produces both spinach and silverbeet. Even with its 1.7m height, it withstood the strongest gusts, probably because of its spreading root system, and will provide plenty of greens until the newly planted silverbeet, Asian greens

and lettuce seedlings are producing again. Magenta spreen is incredibly useful as not only can it stand up to wind, rain, and heat, but it continued growing even during the overcast wet weather leading up to the cyclone.

Once the cyclonic winds passed and before the intense heat began, I ripped out all the damaged and dying plants and replanted seeds of dwarf beans, carrots, parsnips, and kohlrabi into the wet and warm soil. I also put in seedlings of Chinese cabbage and zucchini.

I have a selection of bathtubs which I use for making compost, so was able to put a good layer of compost on top of the soil into which I planted the seedlings.

The warm weather of March continues, with shorter sunshine hours, but you should be sowing seeds of root vegetables, peas and broad beans and putting in seedlings of brassicas, onions, Asian vegetables, leeks, silver beet, kale and celery. Brassicas take 120 days to maturity, so it is better to plant seedlings.

Autumn weather is usually settled, so if you have plenty of compost ready, put in a crop of potatoes which will take 70-80 days to mature.

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FOOTBALL AGM

Hibiscus Coast AFC invite members to attend a Special General Meeting, on March 27, 2023 at 7pm to have input and/or vote on the proposed constitution. Visit our website for more info: https://hbcafc.org.nz/

RUGBY REFS WANTED

Harbour Rugby is looking for referees. Give back to the game, keep fit, meet new people and have fun! People of all ages and abilities are required, and will be supported with full training and coaching. Info: contact Ryan Nixon (Rugby Manager: Referees & Match Officials) at ryan@harbourrugby.co.nz

TABLE TENNIS

Table tennis at Whangaparāoa Community Hall. Games on Mondays, 9am12noon. Emphasis on fun and social play with tea and coffee included in the entrance charge of $2. All welcome. Info: phone Steve Chong, 027 442 1653.

CHARITY GOLF

Rotary Club of Whangaparāoa Charity Golf Tournament, Whangaparāoa Golf Club, March 24 starts 12.30pm. Teams of four invited to take part. Proceeds to structured literacy programme at Stanmore Bay, Whangaparāoa and Gulf Harbour Schools. Info: phone Dan Healey, 021 0555 220 or email healeydan56@ gmail.com

List your sports here FREE email: terry@localmatters.co.nz

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From left, shiso and magenta spreen.

Women’s rugby returns to clubs

Silverdale Rugby Club is inviting young women players to join its winter programme.

The club hopes to field two teams –a 15-a-side and a 10-a-side – in the Auckland women’s competition, as there is no Harbour competition at this stage. For the past three years, North Harbour Rugby Union has facilitated the Albany Barbarians, a centralised team for all women’s rugby on the North Shore. However, in December the union announced the return of women’s rugby to its community clubs such as Silverdale. Ahead of this move, clubs have been

improving their club facilities for women, investing in quality coaches and welcoming female leadership to help provide a quality experience for female members.

Players over the age of 16 can play women’s rugby in NZ.

Silverdale director of female rugby, Glen Maguire, says that in anticipation of the return of women’s rugby to Silverdale, the club embarked on an ambitious drive to recruit female rugby players for the Summer of 7s rugby programme.

“We started by offering sponsored group fitness sessions at Anytime Fitness in Silverdale, then grew the programme

mainly through word-of-mouth in local communities such as Silverdale and Mahurangi,” he says.

“As part of the programme, we ran a few new-to-tackle training sessions and introduced junior rugby players to the broader training group through our U18s pathway programme.

“We didn’t run trials, focusing instead on entering more teams to give everyone a go. The focus at Silverdale is very much on development, player engagement and participation.

“We ended up with 38 players in our squad over the summer and they played

in three main tournaments – the Pasifika tournament (we were the only team from Harbour to enter two women’s teams), Harbour Club Day (we were the only club to field an U18s and a women’s female team), and the MW7s tournament at Mount Maunganui, where we were again the only club to field two women’s teams and both teams made the semi-finals.” Maguire says the focus has now switched from the summer 7s to the winter programme. Any women who want to play for the Silverdale women’s team, or want to know about the female rugby pathway programme, should contact FRD@silverdalerugby.co.nz

Silverdale women and U18s at the Pasifika Tournament. Inset, The Silverdale team had the opportunity to do a training session with Allan Bunting, the new Black Ferns coach.

DRAINLAYERS

For your drainage requirements. Certified drain layers. All Round Drainage Ltd: Ph/txt 0274 890 851 email jeff@ardnz.com

ARKLES BAY PAINTERS/DECORATORS In the area for the area. Shane 021 0813 8481.

CARPET CLEANING, repairs and installation. Dwayne 0274 997 929.

HANDYMAN, RENOVATION SERVICES. Call John 027 441 9603.

PEST CONTROL, Flies, spiders, cockroaches, ants, rodents, wasps. Competitive prices. Ph 426 2253.

APPLIANCE REPAIRS SERVICES

HAIRDRESSING

A SMART REPAIR Service for F&P smartdrive washers, F&P/Simpson dryers. Prompt service ph 021 168 7349.

CAN’T MAKE IT TO A HAIR SALON? No problem I can come to you. Qualified Hairstylist providing cutting and blow wave services. Please phone Julie 021 112 8015

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Based in little Manly. Massage for relaxation and wellbeing using essential oils. Targeted deep tissue & stress relief massage. Can do reflexology as well. 26 years exp. Ph. 0204 116 7992.

RECORDING STUDIO Vocals to backing tracks, original projects, vocal training & vocal PA hire. Ph Skimp 021 115 5233.

PUBLIC NOTICES

HIBISCUS COAST COMMUNITY ARTS

COUNCIL INC AGM, 21 March, 5.30pm, Destination Ōrewa Beach office, Unit N 350 HBC Highway, above ShŌreward. Any one interested is welcome to attend.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

60’s UP MOVEMENT, HIBISCUS COAST. Meeting 3rd Wednesday of every month, 10am, RSA, Viponds Road, Whangaparāoa. Outings 1st Wednesday of month. Ph Gloria 027 386 2339. All welcome.

A CLUB FOR ACTIVE SENIORS - Manly. Monthly meetings, guest speakers, and outings. Whangaparāoa Combined Friendship Group, 4th Wednesday 10am, Bridge Club Edith Hopper Park, Manly. Ph Glenda 021 254 4426. All welcome.

A CLUB FOR RETIRED PEOPLEWhangaparāoa Combined Friendship Club meets 4th Wednesday of month, 10am, Manly Bridge Club, Edith Hopper Park. Guest speakers, bus trips, lunches, movies. Ph Jeanne 027 284 0172 or 426 8675.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY COFFEE

MORNING Informal chats over coffee in the Old Parsonage, 10.30am, Third Tuesday of month. All Welcome.

ŌREWA LADIES CLUB 1st Thursday of month, 9.30am, St Johns Catholic Church Hall. Guest speakers and outings. All welcome.

OVER 60S GROUP 10am-11.30am, 2nd Monday of the month. Over 60s group. Morning tea and singalongs. Gold coin donation. Terry & Noelene Bradley 027 477 5014. All welcome.

RED BEACH COMBINED CLUB meets 3rd Wednesday of month, Salvation Army, 32 Greenview Lane, Red Beach, 10am12pm. For seniors, men and women. Guest speakers and outings. Ph Colleen 426 5673. All welcome.

WHANGAPARĀOA LADIES FRIENDSHIP

GROUP meets 2nd Tuesday of month, Manly Bridge Club, 10am-12pm. All welcome for morning tea & friendship. Raewyn 09 424 1414.

GOLDEN YEARS FISHING CLUB. Do you love fishing. Are you 50+. Don’t have a boat or want some company. Our club does weekly charters on Hauraki of Kaipara Harbours. Step on stop off. Even shore based torpedo expeditions. Come & join us for a great fishing experience. Ph. Derek 021 032 6878.

HIBISCUS PETANQUE CLUB, Tuesday & Wednesday, 9am-12pm, Sunday 1pm-4pm. Adjacent to Ōrewa Bowling Club, 214 Hibiscus Coast Highway. All welcome. Ph 021 177 4820.

MEDITATION IN MOTION WITH TAI CHI

HIBISCUS Come and join this monthly

Tai Chi demonstration! Saturday, 4 March, 9am-10am. 1st Saturday of every month. Whangaparāoa Library’s front courtyard. All welcome. Tai Chi Hibiscus 021 904 333 or taijihibiscuscoast@gmail.com

CONNECT FOUR - Calling all games people to an afternoon of playing Scrabble, Pictionary, UNO and more.

Bring your own games to share. Ōrewa Community Centre lounge. Every Monday 1pm-3pm. Gold coin donation. Info ph 09 470 227 or 021 262 4711. All welcome. FREE BRIDGE LESSONS Hibiscus Coast Bridge Club, Edith Hopper Park, Manly. 10 weeks starting Thursday February 16, from 7-9pm. Beginners or as a refresher. All welcome. To register email helen@ gobake.co.nz or txt 027 444 1066.

HIBISCUS COAST STAMP CLUB Meets 2pm on 3rd Saturday every month at 22 Settlers Grove, Ōrewa. All welcome. Ph Derek 09 427 8911.

HOUSIE AT BOWLS ŌREWA every Friday, 1pm-4pm. Lots of fun and great prizes. Ph 09 426 5937. All welcome.

ŌREWA SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB (55+) Indoor Bowls: 12.40pm every Tuesday and Thursday - free tuition Cards: (500) 12.15pm every Tuesday. Scrabble: 12.15pm every Thursday. $2 (incl afternoon tea), Ōrewa Community Centre, Ōrewa Square. Ph Mike 426 2028 or 021 258 9808.

ŌREWA 500 CARD CLUB meets every Monday from 6.30-9pm at the Hibiscus Coast Community House. $5 entry. Ph Peter 021 704 440. All welcome.

SCRABBLE CLUB ŌREWA All welcome. Mondays 12.30pm-3.30pm Hibiscus Community House (next to Estuary Arts). Info ph Helen 09 427 5384.

ŌREWA BRIDGE CLUB Bridge lessons starting March 21, 7pm. 10 lessons $50, covers all course material and membership. Contact Jenny 027 212 1222. Email jengarry10350@gmail.com or orewabc@xtra.co.nz

ARE YOU A LOCAL, SMALL NOT-FORPROFIT GROUP providing help or support to our community in some way? Do you need funds for a project or service delivery?

The HBC Community House donates funds to suitable groups once a month. Contact hbccommunityhouse@xtra.co.nz

COLLECTING NEWSPAPERS Rather than placing your newspapers into the recycle bin, keep them for us at Ōrewa Lions Club, we are only too pleased to collect them from you. All funds raised from this venture go into the local community. Ph Harry 426 6629 and he will arrange pick up.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OLD CAR OR BOAT BATTERIES SITTING IN YOUR GARAGE, THAT YOU NO LONGER WANT? (NOT the smaller AAA type batteries etc). Ōrewa Lions collect all old batteries, with ALL proceeds going to the Child Mobility Foundation. Contact Laurie 426 3122 or Frank 021 761 161.

FREE COMMUNITY MEAL at St Chad’s Hall 5pm last Sunday of each month. Just come along, corner Florence Ave & Centreway Rd, Ōrewa All welcome.

SERVING SPOONS free Community Lunch. Held on the last Monday of the month, 12:30pm, St John’s Church Hall, 180 Centreway Rd, Ōrewa. All welcome.

DEMENTIA CARERS SUPPORT GROUP Held at the Hibiscus Coast Village, Red Beach. 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 10am-12pm. Ph Michele 0274 114 146 or Caryn 021 210 3388.

HEARTBEATS, HEART EVENT SURVIVORS peer-peer support group meet every 1st Tuesday, Hibiscus Coast Community House (behind Estuary Arts Centre) 10am-11.30am. Professional healthcare guest speakers. All welcome. Info Trent 0220 606 199.

IF YOUR HOME IS UNHAPPY BECAUSE SOMEONE DRINKS TOO MUCH We can help you. Al-Anon and Alateen for families and friends of problem drinkers. Al-Anon Family Groups 0508 425 266 www.alanon.org.nz

SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT – EMPATHY GROUP meets monthly at Ōrewa, Last Monday of each month. Hibiscus Community House, 214 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Ōrewa, Western Reserve, 7pm-9pm. All welcome. Info Susan 021 884 162 or PM FB: Empathy support group.

What’s on ...

To list events, email: online@localmatters.co.nz

13-April 2 Magical Aotearoa exhibition. Works by students of Red Beach Studio and artists Susannah Law, Heather Owens and Kim Boyd. 5pm-7pm.

22 Operatunity presents The Ultimate 70s Show, Centrestage Theatre, Centreway Road, Ōrewa, 11am-12.45pm. Tickets from Eventfinda.

23 Poetry in the Pub evening, Sugar Loaf, 38 Waiwera Rd, Waiwera, 7.15pm-9.15pm. Fun mix of poetry reading (yours or someone else’s), and prizes. Gold coins please to contribute to expenses. Contact Diane, 021 483 849, dianenewcombe@hotmail.com

24 Rotary Club of Whangaparāoa Charity Golf Tournament, Whangaparāoa Golf Club, starts 12.30pm. Teams of four invited to take part. Proceeds to structured literacy programme at Stanmore Bay, Whangaparāoa and Gulf Harbour Schools. Info: phone Dan Healey, 021 0555 220 or email healeydan56@gmail.com

25 Yoga House Outdoor Yoga class and Raffle, Arundel Reserve, 467 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Ōrewa, 9am-10am. Supporting the Red Cross flood appeal. To register or donate https://yogahouse.punchpass.com/ classes/12763373 (see story p22)

29 The Two of Us, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Vipond Rd, Whangaparāoa, 7pm-10.30pm. Free entry.

31 Saving Hope Foundation fundraiser, Harcourts Cooper & Co, 923 Whangaparāoa Road, Whangaparāoa, 4pm-6pm. Cuddle a puppy, meet foster dogs and talk to volunteers. Coffee and ice cream, sausage sizzle, raffles, spot prizes. All welcome.

1 Free Family Movie Evening, Gulf Harbour, by the Marina, starts 3pm. Two movies – Moana for children at 3pm followed by Maverick for adults at 5pm. Free bouncy castle and face painting. Food trucks.

1 Peninsula Club Village Market Day, 441 Whangaparāoa Rd, 10am1pm. Cash only. All welcome.

1 Te Ahu a Rea/Fostering Cultural Growth gala, Ōrewa College, Riverside Rd, Ōrewa, 11am-2pm. Cultural day for the whole community. New building reveal, music, cultural performances, food and drink including hangi and cake stall. Entry through Gate 1 only. No dogs please.

1 Kiwi Express, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Vipond Road, Whangaparāoa, 7pm-10.30pm. $5 for non-RSA members.

1 Eco Fest event, free Auckland Transport E-bike maintenance workshop, Ōrewa (exact location given on registration), 1.30pm3.30pm. BYO e-bike if you can. Covers all you need to know about an e-bike. To register: https://coursesandevents.at.govt.nz/e-bikemaintenance-010423/begin

5 Steve Coppard, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Vipond Road, Whangaparāoa, 7pm-9pm. Free entry.

8 NZ Heavyweight Title boxing match, Long vs Leutele, Parāoa Brewing Co, Stanmore Bay, 5pm. Tickets from Eventfinda. Door sales $60, Corporate tables available.

12 Sharon Blow, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, 7pm-9pm. Free entry

12 Hazards of Human Spaceflight to Mars talk, with Dr Chris Benton, Whangaparāoa Library, 10.30am-11.30am. Free of charge, but bookings essential as numbers limited. Book at http://bit.ly/428kuLj, see library front desk, or contact Chloe, ph 021 189 1890. (see story p22)

14 Shirley Bassey Tribute by Barbie Davidson, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Vipond Rd, Whangaparāoa, 7pm-10.30pm. Entry $5 for non-RSA members, free for RSA members.

15 Boulevard Arts Fiesta, Ōrewa Boulevard, 11am-6pm. Full day of market stalls, creativity and art, food trucks, entertainment, rides and more.

15 Heartbeat, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Vipond Rd, 7pm-10.30pm. Entry $5 for non-RSA members, free for RSA members.

16 Andrew Crozier, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Vipond Road, Whangaparāoa, 4pm-7pm. Free entry.

16 EcoFête at Otanerua Reserve, 19-21 Otanerua Rd, Hatfields Beach, 10am-12pm. Part of the EcoFest.org.nz programme. Guided nature walks, learn about ecological restoration, predator control, pest plant management and composting, and meet local conservation heroes, including Hector the conservation dog. Info: https://fb.me/e/UucOOAeA

22 Laughs in the ‘Burbs’, Ōrewa Community Centre, 368 Ōrewa, 7.30pm-10.30pm. Top comedy line up, headlined by David Correos. Tickets from Eventfinda.

Pharmacy Talk

with Tania Adams

Had a Gutsful?

We all suffer from the odd bout of tummy issues at some stage, like diarrhoea from a tummy bug or constipation from not drinking enough water. However, if you have gut symptoms such as cramping, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation on a regular basis, you might be one of the 1 in 7 New Zealanders that suffer from a condition known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS.

There is no cure, as such, for IBS but symptom control is possible. Diet and life style changes can have a significant effect. For example, managing stress and keeping active have been proven to help control IBS symptoms.

Natural health remedies , as well as medications, can be used when symptoms are proving problematic. Antispasmodics for cramping, laxatives for constipation and diarrhoea medicines are all available at the pharmacy as well as hints and tips as to how to use them specifically for IBS. Did you know that peppermint oil capsules can be very helpful for the bloating and wind symptoms of IBS?

There are now a bunch of studies indicating that probiotics may help with many of the symptoms of IBS such as relieving flatulence, abdominal pain, bloating, digestive disorders, and urgency of the bowel. Probiotics have also proven beneficial in IBS patients by slowing things down in the digestive system, reducing the average number of bowel movements per day and improving their consistency, reducing overall symptoms, and above all, improving the quality of life of people suffering with IBS.

There are lots of different strains of probiotics and all of them have different ways of helping your body. Certain types have been proven to reduce eczema in infants, but sadly wouldn’t help you with your IBS symptoms. So it is important that you take the right sort of probiotic. For example, the practitioner only range, Metagenics, has an excellent selection of probiotics including their Ultra Flora GI Soothe that has been specifically designed to help with IBS symptoms. In any case, you will need a discussion with us to help you choose which probiotic might be right for you.

Research shows that changing to a low-FODMAP diet can improve symptoms in 3 out of 4 people. The diet, created by Monash University in Australia, should be followed for 2 to 8 weeks, after which food is slowly added back to the diet to find out which foods you can handle. If you want to take a look at the diet in more detail you can check out their website: www.monashfodmap.com

Digestive issues can be a symptom of a more sinister problem. If your symptoms are accompanied by the following you will need to see your doctor:

•

• Rectal Bleeding (not from haemorrhoids)

Unexplained Weight Loss

• Family history of bowel cancer or other gastrointestinal diseases

• Waking from sleep with pain or needing to poo

• Symptoms first beginning > 50 years old

• Lump in your tummy region

So if you have had a gutsful, come and talk to us. For an individual consultation call us on 424-7708 to book your 30 minute appointment ($30) with one of our in store experts.

Pharmacist at Unichem Manly

The WOWW factor: women get on board with sailing at Gulf Harbour

More than 120 women, aged from 13 to 85 years participated in the inaugural Evolution Sails Women on Water Weekend (WOWW), hosted by Gulf Harbour Yacht Club from March 10-12. The event aimed to provide an opportunity for women of all ages to get out on the water and increase their confidence and enjoyment regardless of prior experience or expertise.

Organisers say WOWW was a huge success and proved that sailing is most definitely a ‘sport for life’. Memories were made and friends gained over the event, with women attending from as far afield as Christchurch, New Plymouth and Taupo to take part. Complete novice sailors had the opportunity to experience sailing for the first time, as well as competing with and against some of New Zealand’s top female sailors, such as Karleen Dixon.

Day one of racing was described by many as “exhilarating’ and ‘challenging”, with strong south westerly winds and choppy seas testing the fleet, but also allowing some fun, fast racing, not to mention a few upset stomachs.

Crews enjoyed perfect sailing conditions on day two to complete racing followed by prizegiving back at the yacht club.

Karleen Dixon and her crew won the spinnaker division on local yacht Planet X. The non-spinnaker division was won by Sandspit yacht Rene Chance, skippered by Amanda Wilson.

Gulf Harbour Yacht Club rear commodore, Diane Lindsay, says the club appreciated the support of sponsors and volunteers both on and off the water.

She says the event brought “a fantastic positive vibe” around the club and everyone is already looking forward to next year’s WOWW.

Clockwise from top left, Close racing was a feature of WOWW. Karleen Dixson and the winning crew on Planet X. Enigma, helmed by Sarah Morgan. Photos, Suellen Hurling, Live Sail Die, The winning crew of Rene Chance combined locals and women from all over the country – from left, Xtina Manuela of Manly; owner/skipper Amanda Wilson, of Matakana; Alison Evans of Christchurch; Lennie McCabe of Red Beach and Kama Burwell from New Plymouth. Photo Sarah Morgan.